November 27 would have been Bruce
Lee’s 77th birthday, and next month
marks the 45th anniversary of the
release of his classic film, Return of the
Dragon, in Hong Kong. The movie was
tamous for its climactic final fight scene
between Lee and Chuck Norris at the
Colosseum in Rome, Italy. After minor
roles in Hollywood films along with
playing Kato in the 1966 TV series, The
Green Hornet, Lee was finding
it difficult to land major
roles in Hollywood that
were suited for Asian-
American actors.

Lee would later be
asked if racism played a
factor in him not being
able to obtain better
roles in Hollywood. He
was introspective and
diplomatic as he told noted
Canadian author, Pierre
Berton, in a December 1971
television interview, “They
think that business-wise it’s a
risk, and | don’t blame them,” Lee
said. “| mean, it’s the same way in
Hong Kong, if a foreigner came in
and became a star, if | was the man
with the money, | probably would
have my own worries of whether
the acceptance would be there. But
that’s all right because if you honestly
express yourself, it doesn't matter.”

But Lee was determined and not
willing to give up on his dream of
becoming a movie star and so he
persevered, leaving Hollywood in
1971 to fly overseas to Hong Kong
where he filmed Fists of Fury, The
Chinese Connection, and Return of
the Dragon. Lee became a superstar
and was basically the Elvis Presley of
Hong Kong. But Lee was very self-
aware and introspective regarding his
rise to stardom and all the attention
that came with it, telling Pierre
Berton once again during the same
December 1971 television interview,
“The word ‘superstar’ really turns
me off, and I'll tell you why, because
the word ‘star’ is an illusion; it is
something that the public calls you.”

As Lee’s fame continued to
rise, Hollywood eventually took
notice and Lee would finally get his

big break in Enter the Dragon, his
first starring role in a big-budget
Hollywood film. But sadly, he would
not live to see its release as Lee died
in Hong Kong on July 20, 1973 at
the age of 32 of cerebral edema,
one month before Enter the Dragon
was released in the United States.
In Return of the Dragon, Bruce

Lee showed his versatile

talents on-screen

and off-screen, as he
starred in the film
but he also wrote,
produced, and
directed it as
well. The plot was
pretty simple and
predictable.

    
  
 
    
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
  

Lee is in
Rome visiting his
relatives’ restaurant,
which has been
infiltrated by Italian
gangsters who want
Lee's relatives to
sell the restaurant
by using threats
and intimidation.
The film contains
many incredibly-
choreographed
tights that
show off Bruce
Lee's skills and
expertise as a
martial artist.
It also contains
some slapstick with
Lee’s character playing a naive and

 

unsophisticated country bumpkin,
and evidence of this is shown
during a scene where an attractive
Italian prostitute (played by Malisa
Longo) flirts with Lee, winking at
him. He is very awkward and shy,
looking back at her reluctantly and
then giving a very amusing and
uncomfortable wink back at her.

Bob Wall is the co-founder and
CEO of World Black Belt, Inc., a martial
arts organization and a former World
Pro Karate Champion. He played one
of the villains in Return of the Dragon.
Now 78, Wall recalls what it was like
working with the legendary Lee.

“[| just remember] how hard he
worked, how talented he was in setting
up and shooting fight scenes and how

much fun and kind he was!” Wall
said in an interview with the Other

Press. “Plus, he inspired me to learn

Cantonese, which is a blessing.”

Wall has nothing but great
memories about the filming, which
was shot on location in Rome, Italy.
“When Chuck Norris and | flew in,
Bruce was shooting our actual arrival
to save money for the film's budget,”
Wall said. “[| also remember] the
many great training sessions, great
conversations during meals and
also Bruce’s determination to shoot
[the key] scenes in the Colosseum
tor effect and authenticity.”
Wall said he remembers Lee

as a person who didn't come
across as arrogant but instead as a
genuine person who loved what he
was doing (acting and martial arts).

“Bruce Lee was a brilliant, kind,
intense, charming, talented, funny,
charismatic man who worked
hard, trained intensely and wanted
your input,” Wall said. “Bruce was
just plain fun to be around.”

John Derbyshire, 72, is a writer and
political commentator. He was another
person involved with Return of the
Dragon. He had a bit part as one of the
gangsters. Derbyshire was 27 years
old at the time and he also has fond
memories of working with Bruce Lee.

“| was down and out in Hong
Kong in the summer of 1972 when
the movie's casting director was
looking for some suitably thuggish